Sitting out the coaching carousel

[NotAnAlum]

Isn't it nice to be sitting out the coaching carousel this year.  I was happy with Crean when he was here but his name would have been at the top of the list for Kentucky and Arizona right now had he stayed.  Both of our non-Buzz targets Miller at Xavier and Grant at VCU are both rumored to other jobs.  Even Jamie Dixon might leave.  Say what you want about Buzz but he seems like the kind of guy who keeps his promises provided the University keeps their promises to him and his players.  He doesn't want to be famous or rich, he just wants to coach a good team.  I could do without the drama for a while.

[Markusquette]

Agreed it will be nice to not worry about that and just worry about the team and recruiting.  I've been very satisfied with Buzz and I can't say I would be anymore satisfied with any other coach.

[Joe Thompson]

Don't test fate.

Even with his previous flirtations, I don't think anyone had an inkling on March 30, 2008 that Tom Crean would be gone two days later. Certainly the players and administration didn't.

[downtown85]

the list for Kentucky and Arizona right now

Is Gilespie going anywhere this year?  Is he going to booted so quickly?

[Mayor McCheese]

Two years of sub-standard ball at Kentucky is all it takes to be booted.

Not making the NCAA's, especially when the SEC was all-down this year really hurts his case as the coach for next year.

[Big Papi]

It sounds like its a lot more than just on the court production.  Granted if Kentucky was in the tourny and went far his rough edges would be overlooked but its starting to look like neither party wants to be with the other.

[Tribby]

Say what you want about Buzz but he seems like the kind of guy who keeps his promises provided the University keeps their promises to him and his players. 

Are we talking about the same guy who left UNO after one season? Because I'm pretty sure you could find a person or two down there that wouldn't agree with you...

[Blackhat]

Fact is nobody really knows much about the real Buzz.   Except maybe Dale Layer.  We'll find out in time by his actions.   Hopefully Cottingham learned a lesson last year: Prepare for everything, even the unexpected.  (In the least I have a feeling he won't be taking cross country trips during coaching carousel season again.)

[muarmy81]

After Gillespie's situation unfolding in Kentucky I seriously wonder who would actually want that job.  The fan base there is so unrealistic and fanatical that it seems like it would be near impossible to please everyone and be successful there.  I know it's Kentucky but come on...who wants to walk into an unrealistic situation as depicted by the national fan base.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

After Gillespie's situation unfolding in Kentucky I seriously wonder who would actually want that job.  The fan base there is so unrealistic and fanatical that it seems like it would be near impossible to please everyone and be successful there.  I know it's Kentucky but come on...who wants to walk into an unrealistic situation as depicted by the national fan base.

Agree 100%.

The top 6 glamor jobs in college hoops (UCLA, UK, IU, KU, UNC, DUKE), might be very glamorous, but also might not lead to the highest quality of life.

I'm not saying it can't be done (Roy, coach k, Self and Howland seem to be doing fine), but a couple of missteps, and those jobs can become very tough on a person and a family.

[NotAnAlum]

Tribby - Buzz's departure there was all about promises that were broken by the University.  I've spoken to some people that were involved with Buzz's MU contract who say that it contains all kinds of little "expectation" clauses (i.e. there will be a Bus at the airport to pick up the team) that Buzz felt was necessary because he didn't want the MU to plead ignorance on some of these expectations. Expectations that UNO didn't fulfill.  Of course as a high major program MU just takes care of those things as a matter of course.  Buzz obviously didn't leave UNO because it was a stepping stone and I doubt he'd feel any differently about MU.
   

[BrewCity83]

I heard Crean is talking to Kentucky.

It's Kentucy.  It's Kentucky!

[CTWarrior]

Buzz isn't going anywhere this year.  Who would want a guy that bailed after one season on his first two head coaching jobs?  He puts together 3 or 4 more solid years and Texas or Arkansas or somebody comes calling, we'll have to worry, but he doesn't have the resume to move to a lateral job let alone a better one right now.

[MerrittsMustache]

After Gillespie's situation unfolding in Kentucky I seriously wonder who would actually want that job.  The fan base there is so unrealistic and fanatical that it seems like it would be near impossible to please everyone and be successful there.  I know it's Kentucky but come on...who wants to walk into an unrealistic situation as depicted by the national fan base.

A coach with an ego big enough to think that he can become a coaching god in Kentucky by making the team a perennial contender...all while making some BIG money.

[T-Bone]

...all kinds of little "expectation" clauses (i.e. there will be a Bus at the airport to pick up the team)...

Yeah, that and players having to change behind screens, the players would be fed (and staff reimbursed), gyms without running water...  The program was a mess after Katrina.  Not much anyone can do at that point.  But UNO had made promises it couldn't keep.  And Buzz, I'd guess, felt he couldn't in good faith tell players to come there and play for him in those conditions.  

[SCdem@MU]

I heard Crean is talking to Kentucky.

It's Kentucy.  It's Kentucky!

Actually, that might be a legitimate point. I wonder if he has any regrets about leaving last year for Indiana now that he sees that the Kentucky job may be opening.

Turning around Kentucky with the talent they have is a lot easier than dealing with the complete clusterf*** Sampson left at Indiana.

[bma725]

After Gillespie's situation unfolding in Kentucky I seriously wonder who would actually want that job.  The fan base there is so unrealistic and fanatical that it seems like it would be near impossible to please everyone and be successful there.  I know it's Kentucky but come on...who wants to walk into an unrealistic situation as depicted by the national fan base.

Remember, most of the great coaches are just arrogant enough to believe that UK fan's opinions aren't unrealistic and that they are a good enough coach to make those dreams actually happen.

[SCdem@MU]

After Gillespie's situation unfolding in Kentucky I seriously wonder who would actually want that job.  The fan base there is so unrealistic and fanatical that it seems like it would be near impossible to please everyone and be successful there.  I know it's Kentucky but come on...who wants to walk into an unrealistic situation as depicted by the national fan base.

If you can deal with the pressure Kentucky still an awesome gig. I think Kentucky is similar to UCLA under Lavin in that they always have talent but just can't pull it together for whatever reason.

Bring in a good coach that can pull it all together like Howland and Kentucky will be dancing deep into the tournament in rather short order.

Personally I think Gillespie should get another year. They will be pretty good if Meeks and Patrick Patterson come back.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If Kentucky is booting BG, this would have been the year I'd expect Crean to leave so we would be going through this stuff right now.  And honestly, I wouldn't blame him.  Indiana and Kentucky are two of the top 5 programs of all time.  They're upgrades over MU in the long term.  Of course along with that goes the incredible pressure and expectations that come with those jobs.

[rocky_warrior]

So, does this beg the question...

Was Gillespie's success at A&M due in large part to Buzz's presence?

[HoopsMalone]

It's fairly obvious that Christianity is a big part of Buzz's life and it spills over into his coaching.  Staying at a private school gives him complete leeway to discuss Christianity with his players, so that might be a factor in keeping him at a private school like Marquette.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So, does this beg the question...

Was Gillespie's success at A&M due in large part to Buzz's presence?

No.

My best friend, current AD at Akron, hired Gilespie as the head coach at UTEP (BG's first college head coaching gig).  The way UTEP does athletics, they have an Associate AD in charge of each sport so the Assoc. AD does the hiring.  Gilespie did a great job at UTEP and then went and did a great job at A&M.  For any school other than UCLA, Kentucky and a few others, this talk of firing a guy after two years and two post season appearances would be considered a joke.

Buzz certainly was a nice asset for BG or he wouldn't have wanted him to come to Kentucky with him, but BG had plenty of success pre-Buzz and if they give the man another year they'll see he's going to have plenty of success at KY as well.

[willie warrior]

The word from Ky alums is that Gillespie is done, if Ky. can land the right guy beforehand. Two names that are popping up are Calipari and Anderson at Mo.

I do not believe Calipari would leave Memphis unless Ky. throws in Fort Knox-iy is in Ky. I do not believe that Anderson would be ready for Ky.

So I guess Crean would be the default. he is a big enough jackass to go to Ky. after 1 year at its Indiana.

[Blackhat]

There was a thread on an A&M board about 5 weeks ago asking that question amongst themselves.... some said yes but the consensus toward the end was most likely no as Buzz was gone by 2006 and A&M continued with success and made the Sweet 16 that year.   Buzz was a HUGE benefit though for recruiting in Texas as he obviously has a lot of contacts there and helped reel in some good ones.   But Billy Gillispie is still a good (defensive)coach and I don't think any of his past success can be attributed to Buzz with confidence.  

[GGGG]

Let's be honest.  The reason we are sitting out the coaching carousel this year isn't because of Buzz's loyalty, Christianity or crap like that, but because a major program would be insane for looking at him.  In a couple of years maybe, but not now.